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Update: Corey Long, a reporter and recruiting analyst with great connections to Polk County believes it was either another player (Trevor Campbell) who caught the ball, or a different season (not 2014). Long thinks it happened against Boom, and he was involved with the team James was on in 2014. He may be right, as we both recalled the play where James cut all the way across the field. It's certainly possible that I am not remembering the play correctly, though James did make a number of insane plays through the three years we watched him play tournaments.
Original: Wednesday, I told a story on twitter about the time I was most impressed with Derwin James, inspired by video of the true freshman Florida State safety benching 405 pounds. I'm telling this to the best of my recollection, hoping that all the details are right.
I do have a good Derwin James story. Summer of 2013 or 14, can't remember exactly. 7on7 tournament at IMG. Derwin could have played for
— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) July 22, 2015
Team Tampa or another elite team, but he stuck with the team he grew up around, the Polk County team which wasn't very good, but it's home.
— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) July 22, 2015
Anyway James is playing both ways for them. He's sort of bending the rules of physics being that big/fast/coordinated, scores on a crazy
— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) July 22, 2015
Run where he cuts all the way back across the field, which in 7-on is nuts. Think this was against @bbtathletics. And he's single-handedly
— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) July 22, 2015
Keeping his team in the game. It's hot as hell and the dude is somehow not gassed playing both ways, and making all the plays.
— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) July 22, 2015
So the opposing coach is getting angry because his QB is throwing at Derwin and not the other DBs who are definitely not 5-star caliber.
— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) July 22, 2015
But Derwin's team is losing anyhow, and it comes down to just four seconds. If the other team gets a completion, Derwin's team loses.
— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) July 22, 2015
But rather than risk it, the coach tells the kid to throw it through the end zone high, to make sure the clock runs out. A smart move.
— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) July 22, 2015
Derwin and the other DBs are all pressed up to prevent a short completion, and I think Derwin realizes what the coach said so at the snap,
— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) July 22, 2015
Turns and sprints for the end zone, probably 30 yards away, not even looking back. And the kid launches, high throw, but it might not have
— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) July 22, 2015
enough arm strength to get through the end zone. And if Derwin catches this, his team wins because an INT is 3 points in 7on-7 and they're
— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) July 22, 2015
Down only two, if I recall. So we are watching this and the coach is like "go, ball" wanting it to get through the end zone. And Derwin
— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) July 22, 2015
Is just flying. And he gets there and is somehow aligned just right and Willie Mays/Jim Edmonds style catches it. https://t.co/IE0XN8j06j
— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) July 22, 2015
And he was just out of bounds. So his team lost. Don't think I've ever seen a kid more tired after a 7-on tournament.
— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) July 22, 2015